What age is considered speech delayed?

My DS is about to be 17 months and isn't saying any words. He babbles a lot in his own language but nothing recognizable or repeated. He understands what we are saying and does a little pointing, nodding, waving, but not even mama or dada yet. He was a 34 week preemie but has no associated medical problems and has met all other milestones. When is he considered speech delayed?

My DS is about to be 17 months and isn't saying any words. He babbles a lot in his own language but nothing recognizable or repeated. He understands what we are saying and does a little pointing, nodding, waving, but not even mama or dada yet. He was a 34 week preemie but has no associated medical problems and has met all other milestones. When is he considered speech delayed?

No words by 18 months is considered a delay. Pointing, babbling, and being able to do small tasks that you ask are good signs of NOT having autism though. I would talk to your pediatrician and suggest you get your child evaluated just in case there is a big enough delay to keep your child behind in the future. The evaluation and therapy (if there is a delay) should be free through a state program. Your situations sounds very similar to mine. My husband and family did not support my concerns and told me "all kids develop differently. Don't worry" . Well, I kept worrying and got an evaluation. He had a 50% delay in communication. A speech pathologist comes to our house bi weekly. Slowly, but surely my son is catching back up! Early intervention is best. Hope this helps!

No words by 18 months is considered a delay. Pointing, babbling, and being able to do small tasks that you ask are good signs of NOT having autism though. I would talk to your pediatrician and suggest you get your child evaluated just in case there is a big enough delay to keep your child behind in the future. The evaluation and therapy (if there is a delay) should be free through a state program. Your situations sounds very similar to mine. My husband and family did not support my concerns and told me "all kids develop differently. Don't worry" . Well, I kept worrying and got an evaluation. He had a 50% delay in communication. A speech pathologist comes to our house bi weekly. Slowly, but surely my son is catching back up! Early intervention is best. Hope this helps!

my ds just turned 2 and only started talking in May or so (about 21 months). Even now he's not "where he's supposed to be" so he has a speech therapy eval soon. He had multiple ear infections though and had to get tubes....he's gotten so much better since then. His ENT said his speech "delay" was probably because one of his ears had mucus instead of fluid from so many infections. I say it can't hurt to get them evaluated, and if they need help the sooner the better. But to answer your question they were quite concerned about DS at 21 months because he only babbled and said basic words like mama and dada.

my ds just turned 2 and only started talking in May or so (about 21 months). Even now he's not "where he's supposed to be" so he has a speech therapy eval soon. He had multiple ear infections though and had to get tubes....he's gotten so much better since then. His ENT said his speech "delay" was probably because one of his ears had mucus instead of fluid from so many infections. I say it can't hurt to get them evaluated, and if they need help the sooner the better. But to answer your question they were quite concerned about DS at 21 months because he only babbled and said basic words like mama and dada.

My 27month old only says three words ball, woof, and da da. He has an extreme speech delay and is getting 6hours of therapy a week. He is really smart though and knows and follows everything we say and points to things,etc. so they say he is not autistic just stubborn. It is really frustrating though not to hear mama when he wants me. He just grunts and groans and makes a Whiny noise. That noise is very annoying after hearing it for over a year.

My 27month old only says three words ball, woof, and da da. He has an extreme speech delay and is getting 6hours of therapy a week. He is really smart though and knows and follows everything we say and points to things,etc. so they say he is not autistic just stubborn. It is really frustrating though not to hear mama when he wants me. He just grunts and groans and makes a Whiny noise. That noise is very annoying after hearing it for over a year.

Agreed. 50 words by 2 is supposed to be the norm but every child is different. Don't worry too much, I would just get a speech therapy consultation ASAP. Your child is still so young that it should be relatively easy to catch them up with the right therapy.

Agreed. 50 words by 2 is supposed to be the norm but every child is different. Don't worry too much, I would just get a speech therapy consultation ASAP. Your child is still so young that it should be relatively easy to catch them up with the right therapy.

My son turn 3 in July and we had lots of hearing problems tubes ect.. We started early intervtion a little after he was 2 he was at a 18 month level so more then 6 months delay we had a speech lady come to the house weekly and now he is head and no longer gets the help he sits at the window hoping she is going to show up and I have to tell him he's a big boy now and she needs to help other little kids best thing I could of ever done for him

My son turn 3 in July and we had lots of hearing problems tubes ect.. We started early intervtion a little after he was 2 he was at a 18 month level so more then 6 months delay we had a speech lady come to the house weekly and now he is head and no longer gets the help he sits at the window hoping she is going to show up and I have to tell him he's a big boy now and she needs to help other little kids best thing I could of ever done for him

Thanks for sharing everyone. I emailed my doctor and we are taking DS to a hearing check and attending a communications class for us taught by a speech therapist. We will see where he is at his 18 month checkup!

Thanks for sharing everyone. I emailed my doctor and we are taking DS to a hearing check and attending a communications class for us taught by a speech therapist. We will see where he is at his 18 month checkup!

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